When Eli Yishai, Israel’s minister of the interior, read Günter Grass’ now-notorious poem, “What must be said,” last week, he had little doubt what must be done: Without mincing words, Yishai used his executive powers and declared Grass persona non grata, barring him from entering Israel.

As a devout Jew—Yishai belongs to the ultra-Orthodox Shas party—the minister would probably appreciate the Talmudic discussion his decision merits. As his declaration is not merely a political statement but an official act of state depriving Grass of his right to freely visit the Jewish state, and as official acts of state should never, in a modern nation, occur merely on a whim but rather must reflect some carefully thought out government policy, we are obligated to parse.

When Eli Yishai, Israel’s minister of the interior, read Günter Grass’ now-notorious poem, “What must be said,” last week, he had little doubt what must be done: Without mincing words, Yishai used his executive powers and declared Grass persona non grata, barring him from entering Israel.

As a devout Jew—Yishai belongs to the ultra-Orthodox Shas party—the minister would probably appreciate the Talmudic discussion his decision merits. As his declaration is not merely a political statement but an official act of state depriving Grass of his right to freely visit the Jewish state, and as official acts of state should never, in a modern nation, occur merely on a whim but rather must reflect some carefully thought out government policy, we are obligated to parse.